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March 3, 2022: IRES Student Seminar with Celeste Pomerantz and Atlanta-Marinna Grant

IRES Seminar Series

Time: 12:30pm to 1:30pm (Pacific Standard Time)

Location: AERL Theatre, Room 120 (2202 Main Mall)

Note: This seminar was recorded.  Please email info@ires.ubc.ca to request the video link.

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Decarbonizing Canada’s Remote and Off-Grid Communities: Assessing the feasibility of Implementing Energy Storage Technologies to Reduce Fossil Fuel Dependency

Abstract:

Canada’s remote communities are heavily reliant on fossil fuels as their primary power source. Multiple challenges associated with the use of fossil fuels to power these communities such as a lack of year-round road access, increasing costs of fossil fuels, and the rising variability of unpredictable weather patterns has resulted in energy insecurity. Several renewable energy projects have been considered by the government of Canada and the provincial governments to aid communities with the reduction of diesel consumption and provide energy independence. Few of these initiatives consider energy storage as a viable option. Energy storage technologies store excess generated electricity from renewables during times of low demand and deploy stored energy during times of high demand or low generation. This research seeks to analyze multiple energy storage technologies to determine which will be the most feasible solution for implementation within Canadian remote communities to reduce fossil fuel reliance and provide potential long term cost savings.

Celeste Pomerantz

MSc Student

Bio:

Celeste Pomerantz is a masters (MSc) student at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, supervised by Dr. M.V. Ramana. Her research focuses on energy storage in Canadian remote and off-grid communities. She has a BSc in natural sciences from the University of Calgary concentrating in alternative energy and geosciences. Celeste grew up on the north shore of Vancouver and spent nearly all her time outdoors. When not in school or working, you can find her backcountry skiing in the winter or mountain biking in the summer.

From Food ‘Waste’ to Food ‘Cycle’: biocultural heritage and the sharing of oral histories for secure and sovereign communities.

Abstract:

My research aims to incorporate interdisciplinary approaches in the realm of Indigenous food sovereignty, governance, bicultural heritage and the preservation of Indigenous knowledge through oral histories and storytelling. More specifically, my work addresses the barriers towards reclaiming culture and accessing one’s bicultural heritage through the collection of food cycling (waste) practices and Indigenous food-related histories. Here, food cycling can be thought of as a life cycle, a circular food system, in which full utilization of the food product is considered, where chosen certain parts are eaten, and those uneaten are placed back into the land or repurposed with thoughtful and careful consideration. While my research will highlight food ‘cycling’ it also will hold the space for all other food-related oral histories. I strongly believe that food cycling (e.g., bone burial, full utilization hunting practices) can provide sacred teachings around how to ensure remote communities can practice their knowledge and create infrastructures that will allow for cultural-safe food security initiatives that are stronger than current agro-technology centered projects or any other food security spaces that do not acknowledge the protection and consultation of Indigenous knowledge. The non-relational mindset of our industrial food system hinders these forms of knowledge(s) and the potential behaviors that may follow. For Indigenous communities, our knowledge must be protected, through this cross-culture and collaborative research, food ‘cycling’, as well as food oral histories and knowledge, promote Indigenous food-governance from the communities it originates and preserve this sacred knowledge(s) and practices for the communities’ generational passing.

Atlanta-Marinna Grant

MA Student

Bio:

Atlanta is an Indigenous Masters (M.A) student in the Institute of Resources, Environment & Sustainability at the University of British Columbia. Her research incorporates interdisciplinary approaches in the realm of Indigenous food sovereignty, Indigenous governance, bicultural heritage and the preservation of Indigenous knowledge through oral histories and storytelling. Instilling the narrative that food is not complacent; it is a teacher, has agency, and through its consumption we engage in a relationship with it. How the non-relational mindset of our industrial food system hinders these forms of knowledge(s) and the potential behaviors that may follow. Through this cross-cultural and collaborative research can food ‘cycling’ knowledge promote Indigenous governance from the communities it originates and preserve food ‘cycling’ practices for the communities’ generational passing.